ATLANTA (Aug. 19, 2020) — The Carter Center commends the people of Belarus for their peaceful protest against an electoral process that is widely viewed as neither credible nor reflective of the will of the people. The Center urges the authorities of Belarus to begin peaceful dialogue with civil society organizations, trade unions, political parties, and other stakeholders to resolve the current crisis, with a view to conducting a new presidential election in line with international commitments and standards.
“The fundamental purpose of elections is to enable the people – all of the people – to choose their leaders and representatives,” said Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center. “This basic electoral function has broken down in Belarus and can only be restored by the Belarusian people through open and peaceful dialogue.”
The Carter Center also calls on the authorities to end violence against protestors and to release people who were detained both before and after the Aug. 9 presidential election. An international human rights monitoring mission could be an important step in safeguarding fundamental human rights while political dialogue takes place.
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Contact: Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org
The Carter Center
Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
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